Candy Corn and This & That

 

Early Happy Halloween!!! I finished this Candy Corn cross stitch piece last week. The display piece is from Paisleys and Polka Dots. It had been purchased, painted, and assembled last year, but I had not stitched the candy corn piece until last week. The Candy Corn chart came from Stitching with the Housewives.

Speaking of candy corn, are you a fan of this seasonal sweet? I have always loved it, but it is a huge no- no for diabetics. I tried buying a bag and limiting myself to just a few pieces a day, but you can guess how that went. I finally had to toss the last half of the bag into the trash. . . I have absolutely no willpower. :-( Why, oh, why couldn’t candy corn be a healthy vegetable???

Cross Stitchers . . . La-D-Da has a cute Halloween cross stitch chart under its Freebie section. It’s too late to stitch this year, but I downloaded the chart for next year.

Stitchers . . .  If you enjoy any type of stitching, check out Christen’s Creations website. There is much to explore there including “Tips, Tricks, the Basics” and “Free to You.”

Reading Recommendation . . . I highly recommend the latest book by Doris Kearns Goodwin. An Unfinished Love Story: A Personal History of the 1960s is a fascinating look at that turbulent decade. Now I want to read her book about one of the key figures of that decade, Lyndon Johnson and the American Dream.

Finally, Election Day is only a few short days from now, and I think everyone can appreciate this meme.

Lord help us all.

Fall Is in the Air

Well, not really . . . it may be cold in the morning, but as the day goes on it warms up. We may approach eighty degrees tomorrow, and the rest of the week also promises to be warm. 

The title for this post comes from the title of  a cross stitch design from “It’s So Emma”  from the Fat Quarter Shop. I had stitched the fox and the tree last fall, but then put it away until a few weeks ago when I stitched the wording and the leaf swirling in the breeze. It is finished on a piece from the unfinished wood section of Hobby Lobby.

I do have a few autumn pieces displayed though my decorating is limited by my Achilles tendon injury.

I had hoped to head north to do some photography during foliage season, but that’s not happening again this year. This pretty maple above was photographed from my deck along with this beautiful hibiscus. 

One last deck photo of this solar cardinal and web slinger :-).

The deck is as far as I’m going in my backyard as it isn’t exactly level. I don’t want to risk doing anything that might prolong the time that I have to wear this very fashionable, big boot. 

Have a lovely week. 

Fall Tier by Erin Elizabeth Designs

 

I did a presentation at the Crosstown Quilters Guild on Tuesday. I told my fellow quilters that my goal was clear . . . I wanted to get a few of my fellow members to fall down the cross stitch and/or wool applique rabbit hole right along with me. ;-) Since I am still in my big, awkward boot, gathering pieces to bring with me was a challenge, but I believe I had more than enough samples. 

I did not have “Fall Tier” finished to bring, but I completed it yesterday. It is so cute!!!  I can say that as I was not the designer, just someone who enjoys stitching designs by Erin Elizabeth. Erin Wasilieff is a Canadian designer whose patterns/charts are whimsical and fun. I particularly enjoy her “tier” designs and  have two others already in my stash. Click on the photo to get a larger image and also do click on the link to visit her shop. Whether you cross stitch or not, her wonderful designs will put a smile on your face. 

This wood display piece is from Paisleys and Polka Dots. They offer DIY wood craft kits for home decorating and seasonal displays. As I have mentioned previously, the wood pieces are cut and you must paint and glue them together. There are two magnets glued to the main section, and I will place washers on the back of the cross stitch piece. (At present, it is simply leaning against the display as I didn’t want to risk hobbling down cellar in my big boot tonight to hot glue on the washers :-). That can wait until tomorrow. 

Last month I posted a beach cottage scene on this tiered display. The fun part is finding items to put on the sides of the piece. These two small wood pieces are also from Paisleys and Polka Dots. 

Over the weekend Emma and I stayed at ‘her home away from home,’ so Bailey’s folks could go to their son’s wedding. I brought cross stitching and a few books and the three of us had a lovely time.

One funny note, I gave such an enthusiastic presentation on Tuesday that I have already ordered a piece of wool for a new wool applique piece and a pattern for a big wool project. So much for stitching from stash; I’m absolutely incorrigible!!!  Gee, I wonder if I inspired anyone at the meeting? Time will tell. ;-)

Another FFO - Pumpkin Blossom Place

 

I have never signed up for a monthly cross stitch project before, but I couldn’t resist “Blooming Roots” by Stitching with the Housewives through the Fat Quarter Shop. Here is “Pumpkin Blossom Place” for October, the first in the series.  Each month will feature a home and a separate street sign. The chart comes along with Classic Colorworks floss. The orange and yellow background fabric came from my stash. I love how this turned out. :-)

Each month will be displayed on this wood piece purchased from Paisleys and Polka Dots. As I have noted previously, all the multiple pieces arrive unfinished. You must paint the individual  pieces and then glue them all together. Magnets are then hot glued to the display piece and washers to the back of the stitched pieces so it can be switched out each month.

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It’s October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so it’s time for me to climb up on my soapbox to remind you to get your mammogram. No excuses accepted. Early detection saves lives. 

Goldfinches and Poppies

 

Just popping in on this glorious fall day to show you my finally finished wool applique piece, “Goldfinches and Poppies.” This pattern is from Crane Design. Their wool appliques patterns are always wonderful. The wool came from my stash with the exception of the luscious tonal blue wool which I found at The Quilted Crow in Bolton. It is a delightful quilt shop with a section devoted to wool applique. They have samples hanging up and shelves with pieces of wool. It is a feast for the eye, but perhaps a bit dangerous for the wallet :-) You can buy patterns and select your own pieces of wool or purchase kits. It is truly a wonderful quilt shop and definitely worth a visit. (If you are not from this area, you may visit them online.)

The display hanger is from Ackfeld Manufacturing . Check out their website for craft and quilt display  holders. You won’t believe the assortment available. You are sure to find the right accent holder for whatever piece on which you are working.

Today I’m going to finish two cross stitch pieces which I will show next time. My dining room table is covered with bits and pieces of various projects, and I am determined to get it cleared. Wish me luck!

Happy Fall Y’all!

This little scarecrow was a previous finish, but I hadn’t been happy with how I had originally finished it. I took it apart, added a washer to the back, and added it to this mug display. (There’s a magnet on the wooden piece. ) You may remember seeing some of my other pieces displayed on the mug. 

The display piece came from Paisleys and Polka Dots, and these three designs are all from Stitching with the Housewives on Etsy. Eventually I hope to be able to stitch a small piece for each month.

I’m still rolling along, but the doctor thinks I may be able to ditch my big, grey boot in a month. Fingers crossed . . . Anyway, I wasn’t able to attend the Herring Run Quilt Guild show over the weekend, but imagine my surprise to learn that my wool applique Americana tablerunner had received a Viewers Choice second place ribbon. Please click the guild link to see all the winners from this fabulous show.

This has been a good week. Yesterday I attended a meeting of the Crosstown Quilters Guild. This guild meets twice a month, and these meetings are always fun. Today I went to lunch with friends and as always that was fun, too! Tomorrow is going to be another rainy day, but that’s okay as I have a few projects to work on including fully finishing two cross stitch pieces and stitching on a wool applique piece. I’m doing a small presentation on cross stitch and wool applique at the next Crosstown Guild meeting, and I’m hoping to get some others to fall down those rabbit holes along with me :-). So, I’d really like to get this latest piece done. 

Keep stitching, quilting, and creating!

Latest Quilt Finish

 I am pleased beyond words that I have finished this quilt in time for the Herring Run Quilt Guild’s upcoming show. This top was strictly from stash, and it did make a dent in my batik leftovers. My original intention had been to make this a donation quilt, but truly, the colors are so calming that I decided to keep this quilt for myself. There are still enough batik scraps, and I am in the midst of creating a second quilt which I will donate. Besides this quilt, I will have another quilt and my wool applique Americana Tablerunner in the show. This quilt was back from the long armer two weeks ago, but it took awhile to sew on the binding and add hanging sleeves to two of the quilts. Whew! Finally they are ready. 

I also finished the first month of the Stitching with the Housewives Blooming Roots cross stitch project. The two pieces took longer to stitch than I had expected, and I still have a bit of painting to do on the display piece, but I will show it in my next post. 

Hope you are enjoying this lovely fall weather.